“Our Worst Mission” WW2 Bomber Gunner | Memoirs Of WWII #24

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs82YgHYwNM
Published: Jun 5, 2020
Author: Memoirs of WWII
Post Date: 2020-09-07 19:37:49 by BTP Holdings
Views: 718

B-17 gunner Leon Waldman recounts several of his fifty bombing missions over German-patrolled skies, including one so dangerous that his survival left him with the feeling of being reborn.

Poster Comment:

Leon is lucky he has vivid memories.

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#1: Cynicom    To: BTP Holdings, Lod, noone222, randge, All (#0)

Five years later, 1950, we were given B-29s with all guns except tail mount removed. No protection at all. Our task? If sent we would carry an A-bomb into Russia. It was suicide. That is war.

Cynicom posted on 2020-09-07 21:32:57   Reply   Private Reply

#2: StraitGate    To: Cynicom (#1)

Why would they remove most of the guns from the plane? To reduce weight so the plane could go faster and/or farther?

StraitGate posted on 2020-09-07 22:26:22   Reply   Private Reply

#3: Cynicom    To: StraitGate (#2)

To reduce weight so the plane could go faster and/or farther?

The Fat Man A-bomb weighed 5 tons. It took up the entire forward bomb bay. The rear bomb bay carried an extra fuel tank for aerial refueling.

Extra range was what was needed, so all but tail guns were stripped out.

Mass penetration ensured a few would get into Russia.

Odds were overwhelmingly against getting in, let alone coming out.

Cynicom posted on 2020-09-08 06:51:39   Reply   Private Reply